October 13, 2009

So You Really Can Recycle Styrofoam?

Styrofoam: the ultimate environmental offender. It’s made of polystyrene, a petroleum product that takes ages to break down. Plus, animals can easily ingest it, which messes up their digestive systems. So, how do we get rid of it? Recycle it, of course!

Dart, a food-packaging production company, launched a campaign encouraging people to recycle foam food containers (a.k.a. polystyrene) to coincide with the opening of its newest recycling station in Kentucky.

You can recycle any styrofoam container with a No. 6 on it (take-out boxes, cups, and foam meat trays) through Dart. The company uses the foam to create products for insulation, toys, and more. Unfortunately, they only have seven recycling centers in the U.S.

If Dart’s recycling locations are too far for you, check out Earth911.com's searchable function to find a recycling center near you. (Tip: You get more results when you type in "polystyrene" instead of "Styrofoam.") The site also has some great tips about other options for recycling Styrofoam.

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